Lid lifter and carrier



y 1949. A. M. LEWIS 2,471,878

LID LIFTER AND CARRIER I Filed June 13, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fi ABE/877M ZEW/s.

May 31, 1949. A. M. LEWIS LID LIFTER AND CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1947 INVENTOR.

K w a L W a w Patented May 31, 1949 umrno STATES PATzEiN-a OFFICE- 'Myinvention relates to a new and useful improvement in a lid lifter and carrier adaptedfor use on containers having a removablelid which is of such-proportions as to render it diflicult 'to raise it by hand.

It'is' anobject of the present invention toprovide alidlifter and carrier of this class so constructed and arranged that it may be advanced tto' th'e' receptacleconneced to the lid and-automatically lift the same and retain it inliftedposlti'on-so that the 'lid may be transported away from the "container; thus making it possibleto use the lid on different containers, if desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of 'a device of this class which willbe simple in structure, economical of manufacture, durable, compact, easily operated and highly efiicient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision ina device of this class of means of retaining the lid in fastened condition when the carrier is once fastened thereto.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various'modifications. and changes may-be made in the detail of structure illustrated without departing from the invention itselfand itis intended'that such shall be em-' braced within the scope of the claims which form aJpart hereof.

Forming a part of this specification are drawings in. which 2.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention,

Fig. 2 is aside elevational of the invention showing it applied with parts broken and parts shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken on line 3- -4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary, perspective-view showing a part'of the invention,

Fig.- 5 is-a,-slightly enlarged fragn'lentary view taken on -line 55 of Fig. 1.

While the inventionmay be adapted for other uses, I intendathatlit be particularly adapted for use asa lid lifter and carrier. In the drawings, I haveyshown a receptacle "9 mounted on caster HI and provided with alid H having the depending flange I2 and the invention is illustrated as operating upon this lid l I.

The invention comprises a frame work embody ing the rails 14 and I5, each of which is provided with the casters or rollers l6. Rails l1 and I8 serve to connect these rails or cross bars l4 and I5 to form a base. Projecting upwardly from this base is the inverted yoke or U-shaped member 13 which is braced to the member I4 and I5 by 21* the braces 20;: Projecting outwardlyfrom the legs of the invertedU-shaped-member l9 are brackets or lugs 2l' and 22fi A supporting arm is pivotally'oonnectedat one end to the bracket 2| and a similar supporting-arm 24 is pivotally connected at one end to the bracket 22l= Carried by and conmeeting-the arms 23 "and 24 is a supporting plate 25 having the concave upper face 26,

Mounted on and projecting angularlyupwardly'fr'om each'ofthe members l4 and is a cylinder 21 in which is "slidably-mounted a piston 28 having the piston rod extended therefromand pivotally connected at its upper end to the arm 23 or the arm 24. Positionedwithin the cyl-' inder 21 'isacoi'l spring 3ll-"whic-h is compressed when the -piston*2 8 is moved downwardly.

A-goose neck' or rod 3l is reckably mounted on the-U-shaped-"memberby having'the coil 32 formed therearound. This rod or goose-neck =31 is provided-at its threeends with an eyelet 33 and sli'clably mounted onth -is-rodSl' is a chain-34 carlying at its endtheengaging hook 35.

Connected at oneend to the rod 3| is a rod 36, the opposite end of which is pivotally connectedito the rocker 31 which is pivotally con nected at one =end' to the-bracket 38 on the rod l5." This rocker 31 1s connected'by the connecting rod 39 to the supporting plate 25;the connections of the rod 39"at its opposite end being a pivotal connection. Mounted-on each" of the legs of the u shaped member |-9-is a supporting bracket 40 havingthe upwardly turned portion 4| which isformed arcuatetoprevent-a concave surface adapted to engage the curved surface of the-lid or cover I l.

The mechanism described ispofcourse, transportableand'wmay "be easily moved about over the -floor. Inwuse, it is moved into engagement with the side of the'lid or covers -II and the operator then standi'ngwithth'e receptacle betweenhim and themechanism would reach up,by grip ping the -h'ook 35',"-androck-the members 3 I downwardly. This -would cause'the arms23 and 24" to roclc downwardlyand the plates 25130 tilt. This adownward 'movementpf the arms Z3and 24' would, of course; be against the compression ofthespringdlii Theoperator would then engage the hook 35 around the edge of the flange l2 and when the hook is so engaged, the operator would then release the rod 31 of the downward pull. The piston rods 29 would then rock the arms 23 and 24 upwardly, the edge of the lid or cover ll dropping on the supporting plate 25. Due to the curved upper surface of this supporting plate 25, the lower edge of the cover or lid could not rock container 9 would pull downwardly on the eyelet 33, this eyelet serving as a hand grip. This would permit the lid or cover to rock downwardly from i the full line position shown in Fig. 2 to the dotted line position.

The structure, therefore, provides a means for lifting the cover from the receptacle and transporting it away from it and, also, a means for replacing the cover on the receptacle. The structure has proven most eflicient in use, particularly,

where the cover is of great weight or where it is of bulky size and not easily handled by a man. The operation of the device is one which may be easily and quickly performed so that a single individual may easily and quickly remove a weighted cover from the container in the manner described.

What I claim as new is:

1. A lid lifter and carrier of the class described, comprising: a base; traction members for sup porting said base; a supporting member secured to and projecting upwardly from said base; a rocker swingably mounted at one end on said base and swingable upwardly and downwardly at its free end and normally positioned above said base; a pair of spaced apart arms mounted on said supporting member and swingable upwardly and downwardly at their outer ends; a lid engaging plate carried on the outer ends of said arms; a, connecting rod for connecting said plate to said rocker; an engaging hook swingably mounted on said supporting member and overlying said base and said plate and swingable downwardly into position for engaging the edge of a lid .to be lifted, said plate being adapted for engaging the opposite edge of said lid; a rod connecting said hook and the free end of said rocker for effecting, upon rocking movement of said rocker, simultaneous movement of said hook and said plate; and resilient means for normally retaining said swingably mounted arms in elevated relation and retaining said rocker in upwardly rocked position.

2. A lid lifting device of the class described, adapted for lifting a lid from a container, comprising: a supporting base; a supporting member mounted on and projecting upwardly from said base; an engaging plate for engaging one edge of a lid to be lifted; means for connecting said engaging plate swingably to said supporting member for swingable movement downwardly and upwardly at its engaging edge; an engagement member mounted on said supporting member and swingable downwardl and upwardly and adapted upon downward swinging for engaging the opposite edge of said lid and upon upward swinging for rocking .said lid upwardly while en- 4 gaged at one edge on said plate; and means for simultaneously swinging said plate and said engagement member upwardly and downwardly; and resilient means for normally resisting swinging movement of said engagement member and said plate.

3. A lid lifting device of the class described, adapted for lifting a lid from a container, comprising: a supporting base; a supporting member mounted on and projecting upwardly from said base; an engaging plate for engaging one edge of a lid to be lifted; means for connecting said engaging plate swingably to said supporting member for swingable movement downwardly and upwardly at its engaging edge; an engage ment member mounted on said supporting member and swingable downwardly and upwardly and adapted upon downward swinging for engaging the opposite edge of said lid and upon upward swinging for rocking said lid upwardly while engaged at one edge on said plate; and means for simultaneousl swinging said plate and said engagement member upwardly and downwardly; and resilient means for normally resisting swinging movement of said engagement member and said plate; and means on said supporting member for engaging a lid when lifted upwardly on said plate.

4. A lid lifting device of the class described,- adapted for lifting a lid from a container, comprising: a supporting base; a supporting member mounted on and projecting upwardly from said base; an engaging plate for engaging one edge of a lid to be lifted; means for connecting said, engaging plate swingabl to said supporting member for swingable movement downwardly and upwardly at its engaging edge; an engagement member mounted on said supporting member and swingable downwardly and upwardly and adapted upon downward swinging for engaging the op posite edge of said lid and upon upward swinging for rocking said lid upwardly whil engaged at one edge on said plate; and means for simultaneously swinging said plate and said engagement member upwardly and downwardly; and resilient means for normally resisting swinging movement of said engagement member and said plate; and means on said supporting member for engaging a lid when lifted upwardly on said plate; and traction members for supporting said base.

ALBERT M. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 17, 1918 

